Holland’s 2008 world cyclo-cross champion Lars Boom won the Paris-Nice cycling prologue on Sunday in an 8-kilometer time trial in the town of Monfort-l’Amaury just outside the French capital.

German veteran Jens Voigt was second, three seconds behind Rabobank’s Boom, while American rider Levi Leipheimer took third.

Jens Voigt Takes second

Levi Leipheimer Takes Third

Slovakia’s Peter Sagan, the event’s youngest competitor at 20 years old, finished in fifth place 10 seconds off the pace, while defending Paris-Nice champion Luis Leon Sanchez trailed the 24-year-old leader by 12 seconds.

Contador Puts In A Solid Ride

“It was quite a thing for me coming from cyclo-cross. It was much colder and you need to immediately find your rhythm and adapt to the cobbled surfaces,” 24-year-old Boom said.

The Dutchman admitted that while he was unlikely to finish first overall in the race, he said he was aiming to hang on to the yellow jersey until Thursday’s stage.

Boom won last year’s Tour of Belgium and also won a stage in the Tour of Spain.

“I came to (the Paris-Nice) compete in the one day classics, such as the Tour of Flanders and the Paris-Roubaix race,” he added.

There was one casualty as Belgian rider Gert Steegmans was blown off his bike by a gust of wind which resulted in him breaking his collarbone.

Gert Steegmans After He breaks his ColarBone

Monday’s stage sees the peloton ride off from Saint Arnoult-en-Yvelines to Contres.

Prologue Results
1. Lars Boom (NED) Rabobank, 10min 56sec,
2. Jens Voigt (GER) Saxo Bank at 3 sec,
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA) RadioShack 6,
4. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana 6,
5. Peter Sagan (SVK) Liquigas 10,
6. Xavier Tondo (ESP) Cervelo same time,
7. David Millar (GBR) Garmin 11,
8. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) Caisse d’Epargne 12,
9. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas 13,
10. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel 15
Selected:
15. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Sky at 20 secs.

Lars Boom Takes The Prologue